Plans for a Trump family-linked resort spark protests in Albania

In Tirana, Albania, protests have erupted against a luxury coastal development project linked to Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. The project, located on the Adriatic coast, aims to transform the area into a high-end tourist destination, which the Albanian government believes will aid its bid for European Union membership. However, environmentalists and critics of Prime Minister Edi Rama oppose the development, which threatens a wildlife reserve and a biodiversity-rich area crucial for migratory birds. The project includes hotels, villas, and a marina on the Narta Lagoon and the island of Sazan. Protesters have highlighted the environmental risks, especially after heavy machinery began altering the landscape. The controversy has intensified following an incident where an activist was forcibly removed by security. QUESTION: How might the development of natural areas for tourism impact local communities and ecosystems in the long term?